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ESPN say Butler was ‘vociferous and intense’ during scrimmage sessions and targeted Timberwolves president of basketball operations and coach Tom Thibodeau, general manager Scott Layden and team-mates, including Towns and Andrew Wiggins.

Butler, who joined the Timberwolves in 2017, has confirmed that’s the case.

“KAT [Karl-Anthony Towns]. KAT came at me," Butler added.

“We're up in practice and he said, ‘Anybody can get this work!’ I said, ‘Do it to me.’ That's all that I said.

“I said, ‘Every time I get switched out onto you, you pass it.’

“I’m a competitor, I'm in here talking, come at me. If you score on me, I'm gonna tap you on your butt. You got the best of me - but you got to do it every time.

“Am I being tough on him? Yeah! Yeah, that's who I am. I'm not the most talented player.

Karl-Anthony Towns clashed with Jimmy Butler (Image: GETTY)

“Who's the most talented player on our team? KAT. Who's the most god-gifted player on our team? Wigs. Wigs got the longest arms, the biggest hands, can jump the highest, can run the fastest.

“But like who plays the hardest?

“Me. I play hard. I play really hard.

“I put my body on the line every damn practice.

“Every day in the games.

“That's my passion. That's how I give to the game. That's how I give to you guys.

“And right now I know Thibs and he's in there by himself, he locked his door and he's smiling and he's laughing. [Looks at camera] Thibs, I know you man, I know you. He's like, ‘Yeah, I've got him back.’”